Supporting a uK SucceSS Story: The impacT of - Research Councils ...

The first project, ‘Sport for Life’, was launched in January
2010 to encourage primary school children to participate
in physical activity for life. Around 100 schools and 3,000
pupils from disadvantage areas signed up for a 12-week
programme, delivered by Ulster Sports Academy student
volunteers in partnership with professional teachers.
Following on from this initiative, which concluded in June
2011, the Sport for Life Legacy programme was developed.
It offers primary school teacher trainees a two-day intensive
Sport for Life course. This is creating a sustainable legacy for
children to benefit from the programme in schools across
Northern Ireland in the future.
The most recent programme to receive the Inspire mark,
the School Sport Legacy programme, focuses on a variety
of indoor and outdoor Olympic sport participation sessions
and workshops in schools. Dr Deirdre Brennan, Director
of Sports Outreach at Ulster, said: “Ulster Sports Outreach
is dedicated to the provision of high quality work based
learning opportunities for students in the Ulster Sports
Academy. Our student volunteers who service these
programmes are the real champions of the Inspire projects
we deliver and we are indebted to them. Their contribution
makes a significant positive impact on school sport and
physical activity within the province.”
“Flames: Lighting
the way’ is a healthy
lifestyles educational
programme which aims
to increase children’s
awareness of physical
activity and health by
showing them fun and
positive experiences.”
‘Flames: Lighting the way’ is a healthy lifestyles educational
programme which aims to increase children’s awareness
of physical activity and health by showing them fun and
positive experiences so they can learn healthy habits for
life. The programme aims to include children of all sporting
abilities and draws on inspiration from the Olympic and
Paralympic aims and values. A larger number of UK
universities have been involved with ‘Flames’ including the
University of Gloucester where students organised a launch
event to introduce the ‘Flames’ programme to local primary
school teachers. The event included opportunities to take
part in a range of sports including; Rugby League, Martial
Arts, Take 6 Basketball, Football, and Dance. The University
of Wolverhampton also hosted a series of ‘Flames’ events
including free training for university students and staff with
the aim of providing physical activity sessions to schools
and young people. The university used a range of sporting
activities to deliver the programme including relays, agility
games, and skipping. Other universities involved in the
‘Flames’ programme include Loughborough, Manchester,
Anglia Ruskin, Plymouth and the University of the West
of Scotland.
SECTION FOUR : sport development and participation 47